Abstract

There are growing interest to use cellulose as renewable material in order to replace non-renewable polymeric materials. Alteration and chemical modifications of the cellulose by oxidation is needed to improve its properties and functionality. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidation effect of the cellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) using hydrogen peroxide in alkaline condition. Cellulose has been isolated and purified by sodium hydroxide method followed by sodium hypochlorite bleaching. The oxidation effect of the cellulose by hydrogen peroxide was investigated by component analysis of the lignocelluloses, visual analysis, physical and chemical properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to evaluate the changes of functional groups. Digesting of the OPEFB by sodium hydroxide at temperature 160oC for 4 hours reduced lignin content from 22.58% to 16.60%, increase cellulose and hemicelluloses content from 60.76% to 73.87% and 25.86% to 30.95%, respectively. Treatment of the OPEFB pulp using sodium hypochlorite removed all residual lignin. Cellulose content was increased up to 90.86%. Degree of polymerization of the oxidized cellulose was reduced from 1997 to 658. Carboxyl groups of celluloses was significantly increased and confirmed by titration analysis. OPEFB cellulose fiber was damage and broken, meanwhile crystallinity of the cellulose was reduced.

Chesson, A., 1981. Effects of sodium hydroxide on cereal straws in relation to the enhanced degradation of structural polysaccharides by rumen microorganisms. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 32(8), pp.745–758.